News out recently that the Trump Administration is imposing a new copper tariff may have come as a surprise to some, but it shouldn’t have. Regardless of who is in the White House, our access to important minerals like copper, a critical resource for clean energy development, depends on a delicately balanced supply chain that can be disrupted by an array of geopolitical or economic considerations. However, this announcement put a bright spotlight on the need for onshoring critical mineral production across America to help meet the rapidly growing energy demand.

For some, critical mineral development is wrought with hand-wringing and reflexive opposition by those who ignore the strength of our nation’s environmental protections and stringent regulations. What needs to be considered in greater detail, however, are the economic and energy security implications of turning a blind eye to fully bringing this production online in the U.S. 

Read more in RealClearEnergy here.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.